Apparatus for finishing garments



May 1, 1951 W. C. GLOVER, SR, ET AL APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed June 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mm'm 6: am an M7/ am C. 6/0 veal ATTORN EY y 1951 w, c. GLOVER, SR, ET AL 2,551,209

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed June 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR //'0m 6'- Glove/6 h/lY/l'd/I? C- Glover Jr.

M MM

ATTORN EY Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE APPARATUS FOR FINISHING 'GARMENTS Application June 4, 1945, Serial No. 597,450

11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for finishing garments by steaming and then drying to shape with heated air.

In the past it has been the practice to balloon the garments With a current of hot air and while thus extended to moisten the garment with water or steam; but, this practice has not proved satisfactory because the current of hot air dries the garment and it is impossible to provide the garment with sufficient moisture to remove the wrinkles and restore the original shape.

Another practice is to moisten the garment while being supported over the source of heated air and then to discharge the heated air into the garment for drying and shaping; but this method has also not been satisfactory for the reason that even though the current of air is turned off, the natural draft created through the heating mechanism interferes with proper moistening or steaming of the fabric.

Another and more recent practice is to steam and shape the garment on an inflated bag, but here again it is difficult to obtain the proper moisture because of the drying effects of the air and when a supplemental moisture is applied there is always the danger of water staining and spotting of the garment. Furthermore, parts of the bag are apt to become excessively wet with the result that the garment is insufficiently shaped in places or is not dried in spots.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus for finishing garments whereby garments may be uniformly and efiiciently steamed to the desired degree and then shifted from the place of steaming to a drying and shaping station where the prepared garment is ballooned to shape and dried through the introduction of a heated current of air under controlled pressure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means for finishing garments whereby the fabric is softened by steam so that wrinkles are removed and the nap is raised when heated air is admitted into the garment and the nap retained in raised condition While the garment is dried; to provide a finishing apparatus equipped with simple and efiicient mechanism for supporting a garment in position for admitting steam at the steaming station and for subsequent admission of a current of air thereinto at the drying and shaping station; to provide a garment engaging means which effectively holds the garment without damaging the fabric; and to provide an apparatus that may be readily adjusted to any size of garment.

, In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment finishing apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section particularly illustrating the separate steaming and drying stations, the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the apparatus on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the steam nozzle and adjustable spreading member therefor and which is used to control the spread and travel of steam in accordance with the type and shape of garment being finished.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a garment finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is adapted to our improved method of finishing garments and similar fabric articles. The apparatus includes a base 2 in the form of a housing having side walls 34 and '5G, a top I, and a closed bottom 8. Supported on the side 3 of the housing is a bracket 9 having a vertical bore l0 reciprocably and rotatably containing a shaft or spindle l l on which a garmentcarrying turret I2 is mounted to carry a garment from a steaming station l3 offset from the housing to a drying station l4 over the housing as later described. The top of the housing has a substantially funnel-like neck I5 through which air is discharged by a fan l6 operated by a suitable motor I! carried within the housing on a bracket :8. The air circulated by the fan is drawn into the housing through an opening l9 in the lower portion of the .side 4 under control of a damper plate 20 that is slidable over the opening l9 and actuated through a suitable linkage bya shifting lever 21. It is obvious that the damper may be adjusted to vary theeffective area of the opening and thereby control the volume of air discharged through the funnel-like neck when utilizing a constant speed motor. 1

A suitable heater such as a steam radiator 22 is positioned Within the housing between the fan l6 and the funnel-like neck I 5 for heatingthe air.

' Steam is admitted to the radiator through a supply pipe 23 that is connected therewith and with a source of steam supply. Steam is discharged from the radiator through a pipe 24, which, in

the illustrated instance, is shown as supported by, an arm 25 that is fixed to the upper portion of the V side wall 3 of the housing and project angularly therefrom to terminate substantially in registry with a plane passing through the shaft II and the axis of the funnel-like discharge neck ll; of the housing. Connected with the steam discharge pipe 24 is a valve 25 carrying a steam discharge nozzle 21. Also connected with the valve 26 is a valve 28 supplied with dry steam through a pipe 29. The steam discharged from the. nozzle 21 may thus be tempered by mixing the wet and dry steams to give the desired moistening property to the garment being treated. The valve.2$ is operated by a suitable handle 30 extending from the steaming station into. convenient reach of the operator.

The turret includes a cross arm 3| carrying a hub 32 having a bore 33 for receiving the upper projecting end of the shaft H. The hub also has offset parallel bores 34 and 35 for mounting posts 36 and 31 carrying gooseneck terminals 38 and 39. The posts are hollow and carry garments to be finished on the cables and M slidable therein and which have coil springs 42 at the ends thereof which depend from the gooseneck terminals. The other ends of the cables carry slides 44 that are adjustable in slots 48 of the posts to position the springs for supporting garments of various lengths.

Carried at the respective ends of the arm of the turret are frusto-conical shaped rings adapted to alternately register with the steam nozzle and discharge neck of the housing respectively. The upper portion of each ringterminates in an annular flange 45' to which is anchored a fabric band 4'! by means of a clamping hoop or the like 48. The fabric band is adapted to be adjusted to the size of a garment by a spreading mechanism as now to be described.

Carried within each of the flanges 45 is a spider 49 having a central collar 50 rotatably mounting a ring 5|. Slideably mounted on the arms 52 of the spider are slides 53 carrying rods 54 that are suitably anchored thereto and which have their inner ends connected to the ring 5| by links 55 as indicated at 56 and 51 respectively. The outer ends of the rods carry arcuate-shaped heads 53 supporting a plurality of thin fiexible-staves 59 having their upper ends connected with the upper edge of the fabric band to support the band in upright position and.form a surface over which the skirt or openportion of a garment is adapted to be extended as later described.

The rings 5| are oscillated about the collars to extend and contract the fabric bands 4'! by suitable means such as a lever 60 having toggle link connections 60 with the rings 5|. It is obvious that when the lever 50 is pulledoutwardly the link 60' effects turning of the ring as in an anticlockwise direction (Fig. 2) to rock the links 55 for pushing the heads .58 outwardly and thereby effect expansion of the bands 41 and that when the lever 60 is pushed inwardly the movement of the ring 5| is reversed to retract the heads and thereby, permit contraction of the band.

The bands are preferably formed of porous material having sufiicient nap or roughness in texture to frictionally engage the garments to be finished and prevent displacement thereof when ballooned by the heated air current as later described.

In order to spread the steam discharged from the nozzle 21, the nozzle preferably includes a cap 6| having a beveled periphery 62 provided with a circular series of orifices 63 for directing jets of steam upwardly and outwardly into contact with the garment. In order to control spread of the steam and assure contact with the lower portion of a garment, the cap is provided with an internally threaded axial bore for mounting a threaded stem 64 of a spreader plate 65 of suitable diameter to project beyond the range of the jets when the spreader plate is adjusted to a position approaching the orifices and to pass the jets when the spreader plate is moved away from the orifices as will be readily apparent on inspection of Fig. 4. The spreader plate is located in an adjusted position by a jam nut 66 mounted thereon and adapted to engage against the cap.

In order to lock the turret with one of the bands H in registry with the discharge neck of the housing and the other band in axial registry with the nozzle, the bracket 9 is provided with a horizontal flange 67 having a dowel pin 68 projecting therefrom and adapted to engage in one of a pair of diametrically arranged openings 69 or 10 in the hub of the turret. In order to disengage the dowel pin, ve provide a lever II that is pivotally mounted as at 12 on a laterally projecting arm 13 of the bracket 9 and which has one end engaged under the bottom of the shaft H and. its opposite end projecting outwardly and upwardly to terminate in convenient reach of the operator. The terminal end carries a knob 14 by which it may be actuated. By pressing down on the knobbed end of the lever the other end raises the shaft which in turn raises the turret to disengage the dowel pin whereupon the turret is free to rotate to carry the gripping band thereon from the steaming station to the drying station as later described. This rotative movement of the turret is effected by a rod 15 having a terminal 16 pivotally connected with a lug on the turret offset with respect to its rotational axis. The opposite end of the rod extends through an eye 1'! fixed to the lever H and carries an adjustable stop that engages one side of the eye and a slideable stop 8| that engages the other side of the eye. The movable stop BI is retained in engagement with the eye by a coil spring 82 sleeved on the lever. It is thus obvious that when the actuating end of the lever is depressed to raise the shaft, a pull is exerted on the turret to start rotation thereof which continues through degrees. This movement loads the spring 82 so that when the turret passes a midway position, the stored up action in the spring is effective in completing rotation of the turret through In practicing our improved method of finishing garments on the apparatus constructed and assembled as described, the steam lines are connected with a suitable source of supply and the motor driving the fan is connected with a suitable source of power. With the fan in operation, air is drawn through the opening l9 and discharged through the radiator 22 and discharge opening in the housing. A garment, for example, a dress to be finished, is placed on'an ordinary coat hanger and the neck opening thereof is closed by a fabric shield 83 carried thereby. The

slides 53 are adjusted so that the lower hem of the garment is in position to be moved over the fabric band that is in axial registry with the steam nozzle. The expanding lever is then operated to expand the band and press the fabric thereof outwardly in contact with the inner surface of the garment so as to spread and anchor the bottom of the garment. The main steam valve is then actuated to discharge steam into the garment through the nozzle, the steam being tempered so that it has sufiicient moisture to soften and condition the garment preparatory to shaping, the deflector which is located above the nozzle having been previously adjusted, effects distribution of steam within the garment.

After the garment has been steamed sumciently, the lever H is depressed to raise the turret out of latching engagement and to effect rotary movement thereof to bodily carry the steamed garment over the air discharge opening of the housing where the turret is again seated and latched by the dowel pin. The air upon passing through the radiator is heated and the heated air is discharged into the garment to effect a ballooning thereof to its original shape. As the air is continuously discharged into the garment. the shape is maintained by ballooning while it is being dried. The ballooning removes any wrinkles and the air being discharged through the garment raises the nap on the outer surface and the nap is supported in raised condition throughout the drying period. The desired amount of air necessary to properly balloon the garmentis admitted to the housing by controlling the effective area of the opening l9 through actuation of the damper 26. If a small amount of air is desired, the damper may be moved to- Ward closed position and if a large amount of air is desired, the damper is moved toward wide open position. In this manner the ballooning of the garment may be controlled according to the character of the fabric.

While the garment is being dried, another garment may be placed in similar manner on the other arm of the turret which is then positioned over the steaming nozzle. This garment is then steamed after which the turret is actuated to move the steamed garment over the dryer and return the dried garment to the steaming station where the garment is removed.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided an efiicient apparatus for finishing garments for the reason that the garments may be adequately steamed and then moved from the place of steaming to the place of drying. Thus, the drying air or natural draft of air through the heater does not interfere with proper and suflicient steaming of the garments.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a turret on the support, means on the turret for suspending a garment, an expandable fabric band on the turret for spreading and frictionally engaging an open end' of a garment carried by the suspending means, and means for introducing a treating medium through the turret into the spread end of the garment.

2. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a turret on the support, means on the turret for suspending a garment, an expandable fabric band on the turret for spreading an open end of a garment carried by the suspending means, means on the support for introducing steam into the garment through said :i."

expandable fabric band, heating means located on the support remotely from the steam introducing means, means for discharging air under pressure through the heating means, and means for actuating the turret to carry the garment from the steam introducing means to a position over the heating means and into the path of the air passed therethro-ugh for ballooning and drying the garment.

3. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a turret on the support, means on the turret for suspending a garment, an annular fabric band on the turret for frictionally engaging within an open end of a garment carried by the suspending means, flexible staves supporting said band from the turret to facilitate application of .the open end of the garment thereover, means on the support for introducing steam into the garment through the fabric band, a heating means located on the support remotely from the steam introducing means, means for actuating the turret to carry the garment from the steam introducing means to a position over the heating means, and means for discharging air under pressure through the heating means for expanding the fabric band into said frictional contact with the open end of the garment and for ballooning and drying the garment.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a turret on the support, means on the turret for suspending a garment, an annular fabric band on the turret for frictionally engaging within an open end of'a garment carried by the suspending means, flexible staves for supporting said band, heads slidably supported on the turretfor carrying the staves and means for moving said heads radially to adjust said band in contact with the open end of the garment to close the space therebetween and for anchoring the open end of the garment, means on the support for introducing steam into the garment through the fabric band, a heating means located on the support remotely from the steam introducing means, means for actuating the turret to carry the garment from the steam introducing means to a position over the heating means, and means for discharging air under pressure through the heating means for expanding said band to hold the garment and ballooning the garment for drying.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a garment carrier on the support, an annular fabric band on the carrier for frictionally engaging an open end of a garment, means on the carrier for supporting the garment in aligning registry with the axis of said band, adjustable means supporting said band from the carrier to facilitate application of the open end of the garment over said band, and means on the support for introducing a treating medium through said carrier into the garment.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a garment carrier on the support, an annular fabric band on the carrier for frictionally engaging an open end of a garment, means on the carrier for supporting a garment in coaxial relation with said band, adjustable means for supportin said band to facilitate application of the open end of the garment to said band, heads slidably supported on the carrier for adjusting the band supporting means, means for moving the heads radially to adjust said band in contact with the open end of the garment to close the space therebetween and for anchoring the open end of the garment, and means for introducing a treating medium through the carrier and into the open end of the garment.

'7. An apparatus of the character described including a support, a garment carrier on the support, an annular fabric band on the carrier for frictionally engaging an open end of a garment, means on the carrier for supporting the garment innaligningregistry with the axis of said band, flexible staves supporting said band from the carrier to facilitate application of the open end of the garment over said band, and. means on the support for introducing a treatingmedium through said carrier into the garment.

8. An apparatus of the character described includin a support, a garment carrier on the support, an annular fabric band on the carrier for frictionally engaging an open end of a garment, means on the carrier for supporting a garment in coaxial relation with saidband, flexible staves for supporting said band to facilitate application of the open end of the garment to said band, heads slidably supported on the carrier for carrying the staves, means for moving the heads radially to adjust said band in contact with the open end of the garment to close the "space therebetween and for anchoring the open end of the garment, and means for introducing a treating medium through the carrier and into the open end of the garment.

9. An apparatus of the character described including a support; a garment carrier on the support including a rigid annulus, means for supporting a'garment with the open end thereof in aligned registry with said annulus, a fabric sleeve having one end connected to said annulus, and means for engagin said sleeve with the open end of said garment to form a substantially closed passageway from the annulus into said garment; means for mounting said carrier for bodily movement from one position on the support to another position; means at one of said positions for introducing steam through said annulus and said passageway into the garment; and means at the other position for introducing air through said annulus and passageway into the garment for ballooning and drying the garment.

10. An apparatus of the character described including a support; a garment carrier on the support including a rigid annulus, means for supporting a garment with the open end thereof in aligned registry with said annulus, a fabric sleeve having one end connected to said annulus, and means for engaging said sleeve with the open end of said garment to form a substantially closed passageway from the annulus into said garment; means for mounting said carrier for bodily movement from one position to another; means at one of said positions for introducing a treating medium through said annulus and passageway into the garment; and other means at the other position for introducing a treating medium through said annulus and passageway into the garment.

11. An apparatus of the character described including a rigid annulus, means for supporting a garment with an open end thereof in aligned registry with said annulus, a fabric sleeve having one end connected to said annulus, means for engaging said sleeve with the open end of said garment thereby to form a substantially closed passageway from the annulus into said garment, and means for introducing a treating medium through said annulus and passageway into the garment.

WILLIAM C. GLOVER, SR. WILLIAM C. GLOVER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,175 Hlubucck Oct. 16, 1917 1,769,882 Kelley July 1, 1930 1,926,694 Berger et al Sept. 12, 1933 2,075,724 Jacobs Mar. 30, 1937 2,214,923 Glover Sept. 17, 1940 2,284,967 Fan et a1 June 2, 1942 

